Dog star also gets a prize

A gentle Labrador mix named Body won the “Palm Dog”award on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival yesterday, a pat on the head from canine-lovers and film critics for the outstanding movie performance by a pooch.

Body starred in the Un Certain Regard winner film Feher Isten by Hungarian director Kornel Mundruczo, which features more than 250 dogs.

The lead character is Hagen — a role shared by Body and a second hound named Luc — who is abandoned by his family and picked up by a man who trains him to be a fighting dog.

At the film’s festival premiere earlier, Body attended a photocall, walked the red carpet and was invited onstage — wearing a bowtie.

The Palm Dog award is a play on the Palme d’Or, the Cannes festival’s top prize.

“What an honour, what a historical hound!” said Palm Dog organizer Toby Rose, who called the film a cross between “Inglorious Barksterds” and “Ben Fur.”